327 factories closed in Gazipur-Savar-Ashulia: 150,000 workers unemployed, families devastated

Staff Correspondent

More than 3,000 workers once worked at the 100% export-oriented Mukul Knitwear Limited factory in Nilnagar, Konabari, Gazipur city. Although production decreased due to the global economic recession and purchase order crisis, founder Md. Mainul Islam Mukul kept the factory running with 670 workers. However, it was not possible to sustain it in the end. After the fall of the Awami League government, the factory was declared permanently closed on December 17 due to various crises and complications.

Factory quality inspector Md. Sharif Hossain said that 280 male and 390 female workers have become unemployed due to the closure of the factory. This has left the families of these workers facing extreme financial uncertainty.

According to industrial police sources, not only Mukul Knitwear, but also a total of 327 factories, large and small, have been closed permanently and temporarily in Gazipur, Savar and Ashulia in the past one and a half years since August 5, 2024, after the change in the political situation. They were forced to close the factories due to extortion, tag politics, mob violence and non-cooperation from the interim government.

It is known that 188 factories have closed in Gazipur as of January 21. This has left 115,379 workers unemployed, of which 90,760 have lost their jobs permanently. 139 factories have closed in Savar and Ashulia at the same time, leaving about 40,000 workers unemployed.

Those involved in the sector say that families dependent on working workers are in a state of turmoil. If the number of members in a family dependent on one worker is 4-5, then along with 150,000 unemployed workers, at least 6-700,000 people are in uncertainty.

Notable factories that have closed in Gazipur include 13 of Beximco’s factories, Dard Composite, Season Dresses, Polycon Limited, Textile Fashion, Standard Ceramic, Classic Fashion, La-Muni Apparels, NASA Group’s Lease Fashion, Swadhin Garments and Mikkiff Apparels, as well as many other BGMEA-affiliated companies.

Talking to the concerned, it has been learned that about 90 percent of the unemployed workers are still unemployed. Some have joined rickshaw pulling or daily wage work, while others have been forced to change their profession. There are even allegations that some workers are getting involved in criminal activities. This has affected the local market, shops and house rent. The workers are facing an uncertain life. The education of their children has also been affected.

Md. Rustam Ali, senior supervisor of Lease Apparels, which closed on September 25, said, “I used to feel proud to work in this factory. I never had any worries about salary. But everything changed from August 2024. After the factory closed, running a family became the biggest difficulty.”

Kashimpur homeowner Md. Idris Molla said that the markets and rental houses built depending on workers are now almost empty. Many owners who built houses with bank loans have faced serious losses because they have not been able to find tenants.

Md. Ashrafuzzaman, central organizing secretary of the National Garment Workers’ Alliance Bangladesh, said, factories are closing, but new industries are not being developed. Workers are being laid off every day in the existing factories as well. As a result, the workers’ villages of Gazipur are going through an extremely difficult time. Even though this industry is being destroyed before the eyes of the government, they are busy with sloppy reforms and suppression of the Awami League.

Gazipur Industrial Police Superintendent Md. Amjad Hossain said that garment factories are closing one after another due to non-cooperation from the banking sector, political instability, lack of work, cancellation of purchase orders and worker dissatisfaction. This is severely affecting not only the workers but also the local economy. Many workers are becoming unemployed and getting involved in crime.

Meanwhile, the same picture has been observed in Savar-Ashulia. Shafiqur Rahman, a grocery shopkeeper in Burir Bazar in Ashulia, said that earlier, sales were worth 10-15 thousand taka daily, but now it has come down to 3-4 thousand taka.

According to the Industrial Police, Generation Next Fashion, Bashundhara Garments, NASA Group and Ethical Garments are among the 67 factories that have been permanently closed in Savar and Ashulia. Another 72 establishments are temporarily closed.

Aleya Akhter, a worker at the closed NASA Group, said, “I have been unemployed for four months. I eat one meal and fast the next. My children’s education is also about to stop.”